Washboard



(No Model.)

J. R. OLUXTON.

WASHBOARD.

Patented May ,3, 1898 my a R 6 J UNITED STATES PATENT 7 OFFICE.

JAMES R. OLUXTON, OF LONDON, OHIO.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,552, dated May 3, 1898.

Application filed September 23, 1897. Serial No. 652,750. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES R. CLUXToN, of London, in the county of Madison and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVashboards; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Ihis invention is an improvement in washboards, its object being not only to more thoroughly and quickly cleanse the articles washed thereon, but to subject them to the least possible wear incident to abrasion.

With these purposes in view the invention consists in forming the rubbing-surface with wire peculiarly disposed thereon and in such manner that in the act of scrubbing the clothing will constantly tend to the centerof the board, while the water is forced from them to the right and left, as will be more fully understood from the following description.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of the washboard, showing the arrangement of the wire forming the scrubbing-surface; and Fig. 2, a central vertical section of the same.

Referring to the several parts by letters, A

represents the base-board, inclosed at its sides and top by strips 7) b and c, the strips 1) 1) extending below the bottom of the board to form legs therefor and above the same to leave a recess. At the rear and upper portion of the side strips is secured a backing B, the lower edge of which extends a short distance below the upper edge of the scrubbing-board, thus -leaving a space between the two for drainage to the tub.

e e represent a series of centrally-arranged wire strips having their ends turned at right angles and sharpened, so as to admit of their being forced or driven in the base-board. It will be observed that these wires are disposed in regular order, leaving a narrow channel between them, and should slope downward from their inner ends at an angle of about thirty degrees, more or less. The outer wires 9 g are upwardly curved, as shown in the drawings and, with their ends likewise sharpened, are driven'or forced in the scrubbing-board in such a manner thattheir inner ends, which should be close to the lower ends of the central wire, will be lower than their outer ends, thus forming arubbing-surface of the design illustrated in Fig. 1. The effect of this peculiar arrangement of wires is that in the operation of washing the water will be forced from the clothing to the right and left, while the articles themselves will be directed by the curved wires toward the center of the board, thus thoroughly cleansing them.

It is obvious that wire of any desired size or of any suitable material may be used, and, also, other ways than the one specially mentioned for securing the wires to the scrubbingboard may be adopted. Such changes may be adopted without in the least departing from the essence of my invention, which Having been fully described, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. The combination in a washboard of a base-plate, With a series of central wires, sloping downward from their inner ends and a series of curved outer wires having their inner ends set lower than their opposite ends, all arranged in the manner described for the purpose set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture the within-described washboard consisting essentially of a base-plate A, backing B, side pieces I), 1), central wires 6, e, sloping downward from their inner ends, and outer curved wires 9, g, all arranged as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

7 JAMES R. OLUXTON. Witnesses:

P. R. EMERY, G. R. HORNBECK. 

